To the Citizens of McDonough County, Reliable ambulance service is one of the most important public services any community can have. When a medical emergency happens, response time, trained personnel, and dependable equipment can make the difference between life and death. Our county now faces the challenge of ensuring that ambulance service remains strong, stable, and available for every resident— both in Macomb and throughout our rural communities.
Like many rural areas, we face rising costs, staffing shortages, aging equipment, and increasing demand for emergency medical care. Ambulance systems today cannot survive on billing revenue alone. Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance reimbursements often do not fully cover the real cost of providing 24-hour emergency readiness. Relying on yearly financial rescues or hoping the problem resolves itself is not a sustainable path.
We must begin viewing ambulance service as essential infrastructure—just like roads, law enforcement, and fire protection. It requires long-term planning, dependable oversight, and stable funding.
Several practical solutions deserve serious public discussion: Create a countywide EMS authority or oversight board focused solely on ambulance service and accountable to the public.
Establish predictable funding through a modest countywide tax levy, public safety funding source, or intergovernmental support model.
Build partnerships with McDonough District Hospital and surrounding communities, since a strong ambulance system supports emergency room access, patient transfers, and overall public health.
Adopt professional management standards with regular public reporting on response times, finances, staffing, and equipment needs.
Develop a long-range replacement plan for ambulances and lifesaving equipment so the county avoids costly emergencies later.
This is not about politics. It is about public safety, local control, and protecting our families when help is needed most.
The cost of doing nothing may be far greater than the cost of acting now. Delays can lead to longer response times, reduced coverage, staff turnover, and much higher emergency costs in the future.
McDonough County has the ability to solve this challenge through cooperation, transparency, and thoughtful planning. With community support, we can build an ambulance system that is financially responsible, professionally managed, and dependable for years to come.
Now is the time for an honest conversation and a long-term solution.
Respectfully, Jere Greul A Concerned Advocate for Emergency Services
